2025 College Football Playoff Bracket: Teams, Matchups, TV Schedule

The 2025 College Football Playoff (CFP) bracket is out, and, wow, people have opinions. Alabama and Miami are in, but Notre Dame’s not—cue the heated debates.

Still, the matchups are set. Fans can get ready for a wild month of football, all building up to the championship game on January 19 in Miami.

Let’s take a look at the playoff bracket, the big games, and how you can watch everything unfold.

2025 College Football Playoff Bracket Overview

This year’s bracket has 12 teams, all battling for the national title. Here are your top four seeds:

• No. 1 Indiana
• No. 2 Ohio State
• No. 3 Georgia
• No. 4 Texas Tech

The first round? It’s all about the lower seeds fighting for a shot at the big dogs in the quarterfinals. Here’s how those initial games shake out:

• No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma, 8 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN
• No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M, Noon ET on ABC, ESPN
• No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m. ET on TNT, truTV, HBO Max
• No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon, 7:30 p.m ET on TNT, truTV, HBO Max

Quarterfinal Matchups

Winners from the first round move on to face those top four seeds. These quarterfinals? They should be electric.

• Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. Texas A&M/Miami — 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Orange Bowl: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. Oregon/James Madison — Noon ET, ESPN
• Rose Bowl: No. 1 Indiana vs. Oklahoma/Alabama — 4 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Georgia vs. Ole Miss/Tulane — 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Semifinals and Championship Game

The heat really turns up in the semifinals. Here’s the schedule:

• Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, Ariz.): 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Friday, Jan. 9
• Peach Bowl (Atlanta): 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN, Monday, Jan. 19

And then, the big one: the championship game. It’s at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla., January 19, 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

How to Watch the Games

If you want to catch every snap, you’re in luck. Games are on ABC, ESPN, TNT, truTV, and HBO Max.

Here’s the first-round schedule, just so you don’t miss anything:

• No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma, 8 p.m. ET on ABC, ESPN
• No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M, Noon ET on ABC, ESPN
• No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss, 3:30 p.m. ET on TNT, truTV, HBO Max
• No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon, 7:30 p.m ET on TNT, truTV, HBO Max

Quarterfinal Schedule

• Cotton Bowl: No. 2 Ohio State vs. Texas A&M/Miami — 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Orange Bowl: No. 4 Texas Tech vs. Oregon/James Madison — Noon ET, ESPN
• Rose Bowl: No. 1 Indiana vs. Oklahoma/Alabama — 4 p.m. ET, ESPN
• Sugar Bowl: No. 3 Georgia vs. Ole Miss/Tulane — 8 p.m. ET, ESPN

Controversies and Debates

Notre Dame getting left out? That’s the hot topic. A lot of folks think they deserved a spot, especially after the season they had.

The committee picked Alabama and Miami instead, and honestly, the sports world is still buzzing about it.

Key Players to Watch

The CFP always brings out the stars. Here are a few names you’ll want to remember:

• Indiana: Quarterback Michael Penix Jr.—this guy’s been on fire all year.
• Ohio State: Wide receiver Chris Olave, who’s just ridiculously fast and sure-handed.
• Georgia: Defensive lineman Jordan Davis, an absolute wall up front.
• Texas Tech: Running back SaRodorick Thompson, the kind of player who can change a game in one play.

These are the guys who could swing things for their teams. If you’re tuning in, keep an eye on them—they might just steal the show.

Conclusion

The 2025 College Football Playoff is shaping up to be a wild ride. There’s a mix of old favorites and programs that haven’t been in the spotlight for a while.

Honestly, it’s hard not to get caught up in the buzz this year. If you’re even a little bit curious about college football, these games are worth your time.

For the full schedule and more details, check out the official announcement on Yahoo Sports.